HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, July 15: Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner Swapneel Paul has called for the cultivation of oil palm on unused land belonging to tea gardens and satras (religious institutions) in the district, citing the region’s favourable climate and the government’s support schemes for oil palm farming.
Chairing a meeting on Tuesday at the DC’s office, Paul highlighted the potential of palm oil as a sustainable edible oil source and briefed tea garden managers and satradhikars (heads of satras) about existing subsidy policies aimed at promoting oil palm cultivation.
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He said previous plantation efforts in the district had yielded encouraging results and stressed that vast stretches of unused land in satras could be tapped to contribute towards self-reliance in edible oil production.
Acting District Agriculture Officer Rajit Dutta, who introduced the objective of the meeting, said the Assam government has set a target to bring 2,000 hectares under oil palm cultivation in Tinsukia district during the current financial year.
So far, planting has been completed on 100 hectares, he said.
Dutta also informed that free saplings and technical support are being provided to farmers and agricultural producer groups under the scheme.
He advised interested individuals to get in touch with officials of Patanjali Food Products Limited for further assistance.
The meeting was attended by Tinsukia Additional Commissioner Mandira Baruah, all revenue circle officers, agricultural development officers, representatives of farmer producer organisations, tea garden managers and satradhikars.
